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Historic WWII troop carrier to visit WASP Homecoming

At the ninth annual WASP Homecoming on Saturday, the National WASP WWII Museum will host one of the most historically significant aircraft of World War II. Douglas C-47 Skytrain, U. S. Army Air Force Serial No. 42-32832, will grace the sky above Avenger Field and later be available for inspection outside the WASP Museum Hangar. Alongside the Skytrain will be a number of Stearman and Fairchild World War II primary trainers as well as the famous North American AT-6 “Texan” advanced trainer. C-47 #42-32832 is owned and piloted by Scott Glover of Mt. Pleasant, Texas, who delights in showing the plane and extolling its extensive and meticulously documented combat history. Purchased by Glover in 2000, the aircraft has been expertly restored to its same condition, appearance and markings as when it was assigned to the 53rd Troop Carrier Squadron (3A) of the IX Troop Carrier Command of the 9th Air Force and piloted by Lt. Donald “Sky” King. Restoration of the C-47 dubbed SKY KING was completed in July of 2010. Among the many documented combat missions of SKY KING — including operations during the invasions of Sicily, Italy, France, Holland and Germany — the night parachute drop of members of the 82 Airborne Division on “D Day” June 6, 1944, stands out. For that mission SKY KING was part of a 72-ship formation among other groups totaling over 1,000 troop carriers each with 18 paratroopers. In addition to troop carrier and parachute drop duties, SKY KING also towed and released a Waco CG-4A Glider containing a crew of two plus three troops and a Jeep in the invasion of Holland, Operation Market Garden. Scott Glover and SKY KING will be at the WASP Museum all day Saturday, allowing visitors a rare opportunity to get close and see, smell and feel a very special aircraft. The National WASP WWII Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation located at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, the training field of the Women Airforce Service Pilots. The WASP Museum seeks to educate and inspire all generations with the story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots — the first women to fly American military aircraft — women who forever changed the role of women in aviation.